Oblivious to the heartbreak her mother had left behind and unaware of the storm unfolding on the other side of the world, Maya and Harper stood before the glass wall.
“Can they see us?” Maya asked curiously.
“Nah.” Harper beamed with pride. “From their side, all they can see is an ordinary stone wall.”
However, the smile on Harper’s face didn’t last long. It gradually faded as she drew in a slow, steady breath, the warmth in her eyes giving way to the same cold resolve Maya had seen before.
“To answer your question earlier…” she began quietly. “The poison inside their bodies is twice as potent as the one they used on our people. They should have been dead before you and the others even arrived, but…” She paused briefly. “That felt too merciful.”
Her gaze remained fixed on the two brot
